Parts of my identity are embedded in the pieces I created, not a portrait, but a sense of my fragmented existence.

Kristi Chen's multi-disciplinary practice weaves together narratives of migration, intergenerational knowledge, and cultural adaptation. Through her works, she explores the complexities of her ancestral history, connecting it with her own diasporic experience. Raised across diverse regions—Singapore, the United States, Canada, and Hong Kong—her practice reflects the influence of constant movement and the interplay between traditional cultural practices and the modern world.

She draws inspiration from familial stories of harvesting and cultivation, incorporating elements of basketry, incense making, and woodworking into her practice. Synthetic materials like rubber and plastic cords are fused with natural woods and vegetation, creating sculptures that reflect the fragility and resilience of the diasporic experience.

These disparate materials—from tropical to temperate species—become a metaphor for the journey of her ancestors, emphasizing themes of endurance, survival, and adaptation. As she manipulates these materials, her sculptures evolve over time, growing like fruits of her labour. By exploring lost knowledge and integrating it with contemporary methodologies, Chen's work challenges traditional notions of craftsmanship and materiality while alluding to her forebears, who were farmers, artisans, and survivors.

CV